I am a firm believer that it doesn’t really matter what we can’t do in life, what DOES matter is how we handle our weaknesses.

I mean, we can’t all be good at everything. And that’s fine. So long as we recognize it.

Like myself, for instance.

I’m bad at lots of stuff–I’m uncoordinated, scared of bugs, scared of the outdoors, awful with a lawn mower, and I’m completely and immaturely insanely jealous of women with good hair.

So you don’t see me out there trying to mow the grass and messing the whole lawn up, or taking my uncoordinated self skiing and falling down the mountain, gradually becoming a giant snowball with feet, hands, and skis sticking out by the time I reach the bottom.

Nope, not me.

Instead, I let my husband mow the lawn and when he skis, I sit inside and read and sip cocoa.

I mean, it’s a hard life, but a girl’s gotta know how to say when.

I still haven’t figured out a way around the girls with good hair thing, though. And thanks to Pinterest, I find new women to mentally fight every day. DARNYOULOWMESSYKNOTTUTORIAL!!! Don’t even get me STARTED on the fish braid. UGH!!

Anyways, I’m thinking that one of these days when they crown me Boss of the Land, after I have a free candy party and fly on a unicorn (yeah, you think that the government hides aliens but unicorns don’t exist? ) I’m gonna make everyone fill out surveys about their strengths and weaknesses and then I will make rules accordingly.

For instance, I would make a law that Paula Abdul wouldn’t be allowed to speak publicly about anything. Instead, she could respond to questions and/or judge singers performances with an interpretive dance to either Straight Up or Cold Hearted Snake.

They say that like 98% of communication is nonverbal so they way I see it, I am doing her a favor. I mean anytime she tries to really SAY anything, words kind of get in the way.

Also, I would totally do away with the part of the Kathy Lee and Hoda hour where we learn “what’s Hoda bumpin’ on her iPod today”. Stop Hoda…just stop. At this point, we have officially reached the age where even though we still might listen to gangsta rap, or the Black Eyed Peas, it’s actually not cool for us to be doing it. Keep it to yourself. Just trust me.

Anyways, I’m hoping that these points will motivate you to root for me when the Boss of the Land competition starts one day. Things will be good under my reign, just know that.

And if that doesn’t convince you, how about some Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper Cupcakes?

Here in the South, drinks from Sonic reign supreme, a favorite being the Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. So I thought it might be fun to turn it into a cupcake.

I decided to do mine in jars so I could layer cherry and vanilla frosting really pretty. If you want to leave them in regular muffin liners, you can just pipe two layers of frosting on top.

In the bowl of a mixer, combine all ingredients. Beat on low for about a minute. Increase speed to high and beat for another minute. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake for 15 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Place pans on a cooling rack until cupcakes are completely cool.

Frostings:

Vanilla:

2 sticks butter, softened

4 Tablespoons Vanilla flavored syrup (the kind you use for soda/coffee)

3 cups powdered sugar

In the bowl of a mixer, beat butter and syrup on medium speed until combined. Slowly add powdered sugar, beating on low until just mixed. Increase speed to high and beat for about two minutes.

Cherry:

2 sticks butter, softened

1 jar maraschino cherries

3 cups powdered sugar

In the bowl of a mixer, combine butter and 4 TBS of juice from the jar of cherries. Slowly add powdered sugar, beating on low until just combined. Increase speed to high and beat for about two minutes. I added red coloring to mine to make it red instead of pink, but it’s not necessary.

Unwrap cupcakes and cut in half horizontally. Place bottom half of cupcake in your jar first, then pipe or spoon in a bit of vanilla frosting and then a bit of cherry frosting. Top with the other half of the cupcake, and pipe/swirl more frosting on top. Top with a cherry.

I used the small half pint jars you can buy in the canning section at Walmart. You can get a box of twelve pretty inexpensively and they have nice, straight sides.

For those of you who missed my Facebook post, I am beyond excited to announce that I developed recipes for an article called Sweet Offerings in the December issue of Parents magazine. I was approached by an editor of theirs in June, and spent a few weeks in July getting my Christmas on and coming up with some fun and EASY holiday recipes that double as gifts.

This was my first magazine opportunity, and to be offered a whole feature in the Christmas issue of a magazine like Parents was a huge deal for me. I am so SO thankful for the opportunity. When I was a girl I always dreamed of writing and being published, and even though all I did was develop recipes, seeing my name in print was a dream come true. I have you all to thank for that!!

I hope you enjoy the magazine!!

**I’d also love to say a special thank you for the kind comments and emails I’ve received about THIS post. I’ve tried to find words to express what it has meant to me, but there aren’t any. I am just so proud to be part of such a community, and touched by the personal experiences some of you have shared.

I hope you have a fabulous Monday!!

About Kristan

Hey cutie! Thanks for reading :) Let me introduce myself -- I'm Kristan (pronounced Kris-TANNE) a work-at-home mom living, baking, and online shopping in Fort Smith Arkansas. I have a 12 year-old son Jon David, a 4 year-old daughter Lucy, and a husband, Jess. I completely adore all of them 96% of the time (the rest of the time you can find me drinking my feelings with a box of Pinot). I hope you stay awhile -- I'd love to get to know you!

I would TOTALLY vote for you for boss of the land! (As long as you promise there will always be tasty treats like these!! :) ) These would be perfect for my little man’s Dr Seuss Birthday party this next weekend! Thanks for the recipe! :)

I died laughing at “I still haven’t figured out a way around the girls with good hair thing, though. And thanks to Pinterest, I find new women to mentally fight every day. DARNYOULOWMESSYKNOTTUTORIAL!!! Don’t even get me STARED on the fish braid. UGH!!” I feel the same way! If my hair looks messy, it’s not cute! At all! You know what’s cute? These cupcakes in jars! Love them.

I have never had anything Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. I think I wanna move down to the south so i can be under your reign when you are Boss of the Land and drink Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper and eat these cupcakes. I tried to make cupcakes in a jar once. Ya it wasn’t pretty.
Congrats on the article in Parents. I’m excited to see it in print.

Question…for the cherry frosting you said:
Cherry:
2 sticks butter, softened
1 jar maraschino cherries
3 cups powdered sugar
In the bowl of a mixer, combine butter and 4 TBS of juice from the jar of cherries. Slowly add powdered sugar, beating on low until just combined. Increase speed to high and beat for about two minutes. I added red coloring to mine to make it red instead of pink, but it’s not necessary.

My question is two-fold one, is it 4 TBS of juice and not the cherries, or two: 4 TBS of juice and then the cherries (they are not listed in the directions but are in the ingredients…) I plan to make these, so that is why I am checking, not to be “Miss I-need-all-the-facts” lady. Congrats on Parents!

Oh how I miss Sonic and their wonderful drinks. Your cupcakes are too cute. You should be king of the land ’cause you have the best ideas! Plus I’m with you on the hair thing, Pinterest is killin me and my bad hair!

you definitely got me with “words get in the way”. So, yes, you can be boss of the land in my world. Personally, I think it’s a great idea that people do only what they’re good at. which is probably one of the reasons why I love your blog so much. Especially since I don’t bake a dang thing.

Congratulations on parents. I can’t think of anyone’s recipes I’d rather read than yours.

Sometimes we can ask God why….why do we have to go through the things we do? I don’t know why you had to go through what you did, but I DO know what God’s purpose is for you. With all you have been through your spirit is not broken and you are here for US! Your humor and generosity and caring spirit comes through my computer screen each day and touches me. What a gift you are!
May we all rethink how “hard” our lives are when we get caught in the rain without an umbrella, when someone cuts us off as we are driving or when the alarm doesn’t go off and now we are late! You never know what your neighbor might be going through…..THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all you do!!! Kristan, you will be blessed. :)

First of all — YUM! Second, as always, I chuckle silently as read what you wrote. I would laugh out loud, but then my students would know I was not putting grades in the gradebook, and I gotta keep up that appearance ;) And last, but definitely not least — WAY TO GO! Parents Magazine? Woot-woot! Congrats!!!

You are seriously brilliant. Being from the south, I can attest to the fact that Sonic happy hour is something that many people set their clocks by. :) And, Dr. Pepper…well, it does not get any better than the Dublin Dr. Pepper made right here in Texas with real Imperial Sugar. Yummy! So…needless to say, I must try these cupcakes. If only I could make them look as pretty as yours…

A. I want these cupcakes.
B. I stop and stare that that messy bun EVERY time I’m on Pinterest…even though I know it’s impossible with this hair.
C. Yay, Parents magazine!!! I really want to stand in the magazine section at Barnes & Noble, grabbing random passersby and say, “I know her!!!”

Love your funny posts that come into my mailbox every day!
They put a smile on my face :)
To put a smile on your face, have a look at my fishtail braid tutorial, seriously its the easiest
fashion hairstyle to master.
xhttp://byhester.blogspot.com/2011/11/fishy-tail.html

Thank you so much for the recipe! My mom passed away on mothers day this year, she was the biggest dr pepper fan around. None of my siblings or me wanted to do anything for Thanksgiving this year, too hard, but this might be a fun way to do something fun in her memory. I will be bringing them to our meal tomorrow.

My daughter (5) was peeking over my shoulder while I was looking through blogs for something sweet to take to a family get-together this weekend. She saw these & immediately determined that she’d found the winner! We had so much fun making them together & they were very tasty! I didn’t have any jars, so I put them in 9 oz plastic punch cups & it worked great. I will be making these again for sure! Thanks!!!

Just found this dazzling recipe via following some other links on Pinterest – wanted to thank you because I can easily convert this into an allergy-friendly dessert for my daughter – i’m using a dairy-free cake mix, non-dairy margarine, soy buttermilk, and 1/4 unsweetened applesauce in place of each egg. I can’t wait to see her eyes light up at this special dessert!

Hi! Love your blog and recipes! I’ve been trying a lot of them and they all are great. I do have a question. I’m making your Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper Cupcakes as we speak. I’m making the vanilla frosting and my frosting looks kinda runny and yellowish. I followed your directions. Wondering what I could be doing wrong? I’m making these for my daughter’s 20th birthday. She loves Dr. Pepper.